SciQ: Volume 1

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All Rise...

Judge Kent Dixon expected this release to be about Japanese poetry.

The Charge

Feed your brain!

The Case

Once you get past all the complex principles, mathematics, and other
technical stuff, science is just plain fun. With every scientific principle,
there are cool ways to demonstrate how they apply in our everyday lives that
make the concepts more engaging and enticing for younger students. Presumably
with the science and knowledge of the Smithsonian Institution behind it, and
guided by three suitable hip and peppy hosts-Paula, Andrew, and Pemma, the
Smithsonian Channel's series SciQ takes younger viewers behind the
science with practical examples of science at work.

In each episode, the hosts accept challenges to see who can learn the most
new science facts and information from experts in their respective fields. At
the end of every episode, the hosts put their news skills into action, making it
fun while they reinforce the facts and information viewers learned while they
watched. SciQ: Volume 1 includes four 26-minute episodes from the series,
in seemingly random order:

• "CSI" (episode five): The tiniest clues can give the
bad guys away, and Crime Scene Investigators are the scientific experts with the
skills and training it takes to compile the evidence. Working their ways through
a mock crime scene, Andrew and Paula learn crime fighting skills from the
experts first hand.

• "Spies" (episode 10): Entering the world of
espionage, viewers learn how spy cameras, infrared imaging, lie detectors, CT
scans, and other tools can help experts see things that may be outside limited
human perception.

• "Movie Magic" (episode 4): Special effects mix
science and illusion to create some dramatic and exciting results. This episode
shows how make-up and prosthetics effects, Foley recording, artificial weather,
pyrotechnics, and stunt work contribute to many movies.

• "Sound" (episode 2): Where would we be without our
sense of sound to help us perceive and enjoy the world around us? This episode
explores the parts of the ear, sound waves, pitch, notes, and other elements
that contribute to how we perceive sound. The SciQ team learns all about
sound from a diverse group of experts that includes Blue Man Group, inventors,
and even a vocal coach.

The series has a pretty cool high-energy opening credit sequence that is
clearly designed to hook young viewers. The show can be a bit corny at times,
but since I'm not the target audience and my own budding 7- and 10-year-old
scientists ate it up, SciQ is likely to be a winner with most young students.
The hosts keep the energy and enthusiasm constant through every episode, and
just the right amount of scientific principle and content help to make
SciQ a suitable educational tool as well.

SciQ: Volume 1 comes to DVD with a quality A/V presentation that
matches the engaging content quite nicely. Colors are vivid, the picture is
clear and sharp at all times, and the audio mix combines narration, music, and
other elements into an energetic sonic presentation that will easily grab and
hold the ears of younger viewers.

No extra features or additional content of any kind are included with this
release, aside from promotional trailers for 13 other Smithsonian titles.

The Verdict

SciQ: Volume 1 delivers short and sweet lessons about everyday
scientific principles with a unique format and style that makes learning fun.
Not guilty.